How To Keep Hornets Away From Your Home

Hornets are a type of wasp that is generally more aggressive and larger than other varieties. They may seem similar to bees and wasps due to them being in the same order of insects, Hymenoptera, but the three are very different. Hornets differ from wasps and bees due to their larger size and their colour. They are usually brown with red, yellow or orange markings, with little black like bees and wasps have and can be up to two inches long.

A hornet sting is much more painful than their bee and wasp siblings, so you should try your best to keep encounters with them to a minimum. Read on for some tips to keep hornets away from your home.



Keep Up With House Repairs

Hornets love to nest in broken areas of your home, such as windows, doors, panels, gaps and crevices. So ensure that you keep up with maintenance to ensure these problem areas are secure from nests. They also like to make a home in other animals' nests, such as burrows or birdhouses, so in seasons when animals are not using them, make sure you check them to ensure hornets haven’t taken up home.

Get Rid Of Leftover Food

Hornets are attracted to food, so to keep them away make sure your bins are secure and all food waste is disposed of safely. This means using heavy-duty garbage bags that prevent any food from spilling or leaking out while waiting for it to be collected. They’re especially attracted to sweet smells, so ensure all fruits and other sweet foods are specially taken care of when disposing of them. Hornets also feed on other insects, so ensuring food is disposed of properly stops other animals from appearing, which will make hornets more likely to come and feed.

Plants

Some plants work to repel insects such as hornets. Citronella is the most well-known one, but thyme, spearmint, wormwood and eucalyptus also work. If you still want a beautiful garden, plants such as geraniums can create eye-catching displays while still deterring hornets. Be careful when planting though, as some flowers and trees can actually attract hornets. They’re attracted to sweet fruit trees such as pears, peaches and apples and flowers such as petunias, bee balm, yarrow and butterfly weed.

Call In Pest Control

If you’re unfortunate enough to have a problem with hornets on your property, it’s best to act quickly and call in an expert. This is where Mr Wasp can assist. We have over four decades of experience removing hornet, bee or wasp infestations from workplaces quickly, efficiently and safely.

So give us a call on 029 2075 4796 at any time of the day or night for emergency infestation advice and solutions. If you want to find out more about our services, visit our website now for more information and to browse a selection of case studies from our satisfied customers.